Sen. Mary Landrieu blasted the Obama administration for its lack of support for bipartisan legislation that would steer more royalties from energy production on federal lands to coastal states.

Written by

Deborah Barfield Berry
Gannett Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska slammed the Obama administration Tuesday for opposing their bipartisan legislation that would steer more royalties from energy production on federal lands to coastal states.

"I find it tragic the administration's position on this issue and seemingly heartless given the great challenges" facing Gulf Coast communities, Landrieu, a Democrat, told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Landrieu and others questioned an official from the Department of Interior and other witnesses, including an ...